The Rundown

Stimulus Will Test Remaining GOP Clout

By Ben Pershing
How much clout do Republicans have left in this town? The first and best test of that question should come quickly next month, as congressional Democrats start moving a historically huge, Barack Obama-backed stimulus package under the wary eye of the minority.

On Monday, both Mitch McConnell and John Boehner called for caution, asking Democrats to hold extensive hearings to vet the package, and to ensure that the measure does not become the vehicle for all manner of legislative pet projects. Estimates of the package's size vary, but both Republicans have seized on the nice, round $1 trillion price tag

The GOP's influence over the upcoming stimulus bill rests on two thin reeds. The first is the one or two Republican senators -- depending on the still-unresolved outcome of the Franken-Coleman race in Minnesota -- who prevent Democrats from having a filibuster-proof majority in the chamber. The second is Democrats' unwillingness to push a massive, budget-busting bill through Congress without the cover of at least nominal GOP support. On the latter point, Democrats made soothing noises Monday about "cooperation" with the minority, but will that cooperation last longer than a week or so if Republicans aren't rushing to sign off on a deal? Democrats could then just seek to pick off a few GOP moderates in the Senate, but will the majority be willing to move such a massive, budget-busting bill on such a partisan basis?

Comments

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in it's best stage is a necessary evil; in it's worst state is an intolerable one."
(Welcome America to the intolerable era-)

The government is best which governs least." Thomas Paine

Neither the crooked Senate nor corrupt House. Has an answer, because they are the problem.
Barney Franks and his Banking oversight committee conspiritors Mr. Morris head of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac lived together in their homosexual relationship, While Franks was the head of the oversight committee.CONFLICT OF INTREST!?
Have raped this country and financially pillaged the people. Leaving a smelly carcass to be buried by you the taxpayer.
Now they are laughing at you because they along with Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, and Chris Dodd, Charles Schumer, allowed this too happen.
Then they point the finger at Bush. You in your blind hatred believe them.

You "Fish in a bucket" believe them, and bought this, and the whole system hook line and sinker.
Now it will cost every American to the tune of 1100-1200 dollars a person, for decades.
While your V.P. Elect says, "It is patriotic duty to pay higher taxes."

But I say this and I hope these Libs in Congress listen well-
"The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave through reflection."
You have 2 yrs to correct this. 2yrs, then once the people have grown weary of your lies, and mismanagement,corruption and taxes.
The misappropriation (theft) of their retirement money- allowing Bankers and real estate people to steal billions.
Grow weary of death tax,and this tax and that tax, and the B.S. tripe you fooled them into swallowing.
We will throw your axxxes out of office.
You see..., "These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country."
You Mr. Franks are that one who shrinks, you sir are that sunshine patriot. Who uses the American people for his bidding.
It is time you vacate your seat. You have and are the causal factor the catalyst for the entire meltdown of the Banking and real estate industry.
You sir are derilect in your duties!

Posted by: Aiden1 | December 31, 2008 11:47 AM

Although we're all smarting from the last 3 years of total disregard for our economy, we now have a man with sound ideas to help us all weather this storm. And what do we hear from the erstwhile leaders of the infamous Southern Republicans, "let's not spend foolishly on pet projects". I guess they have all forgotten the feeding frenzy the GOP sustained over the last 12 years not to mention the biggest thief this country has ever had in office, Sen Ted "PorkBarrel Stevens" of Alaska. He managed to bring the term Porkbarrel to unimaginable heights while the GOP had the power and please consider that the foundations of our current financial collapse were all begotten under GOP rule. Of course we also had the biggest loser steering the ship as well. Thanks for nothing, GOP. Just go away.

This from the party that outsourced two wars on no bid contracts - and then made us pay for it!

Posted by: JohnQuimby | December 31, 2008 12:21 AM

This will not in any way test Republican's clout, but it will set before every thought
inspired American what they will permit as the gospel. We are on the verge of losing not only our rights, but also our freedoms!

Not really a problem. The first major piece of Obama infrastructure legislation will be a massive build of light rail in Boehners district. He'll jump all over it or he'll be history. So much for the loyal opposition.

Posted by: lawofficemail | December 30, 2008 5:23 PM

When Common Man 1, gets any help from the previous 770 Billion Dollar Theft;

THEN, we should talk about shaking the Piggy-Bank again!

What does Mitt Romney or Bloomberg suggest?

Posted by: SAINT---The | December 30, 2008 4:20 PM

It would seem that the prime concern of the GOP today is how rapidly they would like to descend into irrelevance.

As Politico reported today, many core GOP supporters think that the wisdom to distribute an offensive, racially stereotypical parody is a good thing to have in a party leader.

Hey, why unite behind Obama at the start of his presidency, when you can engage in nasty, petty snarkiness?

As I blogged today, continuing this mean-spirited approach will make the GOP go the way of the Betamax and the Whig party.

The GOP call for fiscal responsibility is
a like skanky hooker calling for abstinence.

Posted by: JohnQuimby | December 30, 2008 1:12 PM

Milque toast Reid will figure out a way to invert his spine even further, as he bends over backwards for McChinless yet again.

41 is going to be tougher to achieve for the GOP this Congress, but Reid will figure out a way to galvanize GOP moderates like Snowe and Specter to throw in with McChinless, Demint and the rest of the GOP confederacy.

Posted by: mathas | December 30, 2008 10:17 AM

It’ll be interesting to watch where the GOP leadership draws the line on obstructionism in the new Congress a d in working with the new administration. Will they simply lapse into the same tendencies that they slammed the minority Dems for back in the GOP heyday?